Nagaland Congress leaders Tuesday called on United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and submitted assessment reports of Drought relief scheme for Nagaland.
Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president K V Pusa and CLP leader Chingwang Konyak along with members of NPCC and congress legislators apprised Sonia about the drought relief scheme. “The UPA chairperson has congratulated us for the reports” the state congress chief said. He said Gandhi has assured them to look into the matter so that drought affected people receive the relief scheme.
The NPCC president said the response from UPA chairperson was very positive as she had expressed her “deep concern” for the people of Nagaland and that the whole assessment reports would be examined.
“The union government and the UPA chairperson would like to see that this time funds reach the targeted people and does not go to the pockets of handful of people who are in power,” he said.
Congress leaders were also skeptical and apprehensive about the drought relief scheme seeing the recent past record of the state government and had assured the people that they would discuss the matter with the central leaders and work out mechanisms so that funds are not misused this time.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio had recently met the congress leaders in Nagaland and assured them that funds would not be misused this time and that all affected people by drought, irrespective of political affiliations would be given equal share.
However, state congress leaders are still not fully convinced by the assurance of the state government.
The congress leaders had also met the state agriculture minister to work out together for proper assessment but there was no response according to the congress sources.
State government has worked out about Rs. 74 crores for the drought hit people, while congress has estimated about Rs. 100 crores.
The state congress has submitted separate reports of all the 60 assembly constituencies and would also call on Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and other central leaders in the coming days.